\n
Every year since 2012,\u00a0CTLatinoNews.com has identified\u00a0a group of Latinos whose volunteerism and advocacy work for the betterment of state’s Hispanics\u00a0is exemplary and should be highlighted.\u00a0\u00a0 They are indeed ‘Champions of Change’.<\/span><\/p>\n This year our ‘Champions’ include an education advocate, a tireless volunteer for veterans, an advocate for\u00a0the rights\u00a0of the undocumented and a young New Haven man who is determined to use the arts to provide all with a\u00a0broader spectrum of what is a Latino. \u00a0\u00a0We congratulate them all \u00a0and also thank the thousands of other Latinos across the state who everyday give of themselves to improve the lives of all of the state’s residents.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We are happy to announce our\u00a0 ‘Champions of Change’ for 2016 are:\u00a0\u00a0 Juan L. Cruz, Millie\u00a0 Arceniegas, Juan Carlos Soto and Carolina Bortelloto.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A heartfelt thank you to all!<\/span><\/p>\n Juan L. Cruz<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n Juan,\u00a0who retired this past year after\u00a022 years of government and military service, has dedicated countless volunteer hours in assisting and increasing the profile of Latino veterans.\u00a0 He\u00a0is\u00a0<\/span>the current\u00a0president of the Hispanic-American Veterans of Connecticut Inc. also known as HAVOCT INC and was one of the <\/span>founders of the organization which was created ten years ago.\u00a0<\/span><\/span> Every year since 2012,\u00a0CTLatinoNews.com has identified\u00a0a group of Latinos whose volunteerism and advocacy work for the betterment of state’s Hispanics\u00a0is 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Latinos whose volunteerism and advocacy work for the betterment of state’s Hispanics\u00a0is […]","authors":[{"term_id":565,"user_id":0,"is_guest":1,"slug":"news-editor","display_name":"News 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\nJuan has been instrumental in assisting veterans in need and providing guidance and material in order to improve the life of the service members and their family.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Juan is currently working in two major areas –\u00a0 Veterans Peer Support Group and\u00a0the Art Therapy Program for veterans with the University of Saint Joseph and serves on the\u00a0program committee.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Juan has also volunteered as part of the funeral assignments for countless\u00a0veterans across Connecticut.<\/span>
\nJuan has received multiple commendations and awards as a result of his volunteerism on behalf of veterans and CTLatinoNews.com takes pride in naming him one of the ‘Champions Of Change” for the Latino\u00a0community of CT for 2016.<\/span><\/span>
\n
\nMilly Arciniegas <\/strong>
\nMilly Arciniegas serves as the Executive Director of the Hartford Parent University. After serving in the United States Navy for four years, she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Information Science \/ Business Administration and she\u00a0served as\u00a0 Vice President of Technology for a private financial business for over ten years.\u00a0 But it was during those 10 years that Millie also worked on a volunteered\u00a0basis\u00a0with parents, teachers, administrators, district staff and the superintendents to increase parent engagement throughout Hartford Public Schools, which led to the now Hartford’s Parent University.
\nShe served\u00a0President of\u00a0the Hartford Parent Organization Council (a coalition of 45 PTO’s throughout Hartford Public Schools) where she and other active parents provided training\/technical assistance to PTO parent leaders and parents throughout Hartford Public Schools and advocated for all children to receive a quality education regardless of their socio-economic backgrounds or where they lived.
\nWorking with a dedicated team of Hartford parents and other education advocates beside her, they secured\u00a0 resources and funding to\u00a0 be able to expand\u00a0their work\u00a0\u00a0with Hartford parents, community organizations, school leaders and educators to develop the Hartford\u00a0Parent University, a model that is grounded in research and provides culturally relevant courses to parents.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/strong>
\nWe thank Milly for her\u00a0commitment to\u00a0the advancement of Hartford’s children through education.\u00a0 Adelante!
\n
\n Photo credit: WNPR
\nCarolina Bortelloto\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nCarolina may be one of the\u00a0 most recognizable activists for undocumented students in Connecticut.\u00a0 She is a founder of CT Students for a Dream, a youth-led statewide network dedicated to fighting for the rights of undocumented youth and families.\u00a0 They have fought successfully for in-state tuition for undocumented students, and are now working \u00a0on a ‘College Access Program’ to enable these students to go onto higher education.
\nShe and the group are also currently offering community meetings to teach and advise the undocumented on how to protect themselves in light of the recent presidential election and the anti-immigrant rhetoric that preceded it.
\nA native of Brazil, Carolina\u00a0and her work are a\u00a0beacon to the many young undocumented students who\u00a0just want an education.\u00a0\u00a0 Thank you and congratulations!
\n
\nJuan Carlos Soto<\/strong>\u00a0
\nBorn\u00a0 in Puerto Rico, Carlos moved to the United States as his family\u00a0searched for better opportunities.\u00a0 <\/span>
\nWhile he works as a\u00a0Youth and Community Organizer at Junta for Progressive Action in New Haven, he\u00a0also works tirelessly to utilize the arts to\u00a0share a broader representation of Latinos.\u00a0 <\/span>
\nHe serves on the board of Puerto Ricans United, which sponsors several annual cultural events including the Fiestas Patronales on the New Haven green. <\/span>
\nAs a volunteer, Juan Carlos handles all\u00a0the art direction for the festival.\u00a0 He does this because he says when people see Latino culture they\u00a0fall love in it, they will see we are\u00a0more\u00a0than the limited and\u00a0 mostly negative portrayal of\u00a0 what is shared on TV.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>
\nHe also wants to inspire Latino youth to see themselves in those “different shades of being a Latino” and provide them with\u00a0different place\u00a0to look to see who they are.\u00a0<\/span>
\nJuan Carlos, thank you for your leadership and creative approach.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"